I'm cutting the cord and plan on using Tivo for OTA HD. I'm hesitant to purchase new from Tivo as there are rumors of new hardware in the fall and trying to figure out what my options are to cheaply start using Tivo now with minimal commitment. I'm a little confused about the options as it pertains to the service plans and commitment.

It looks like I can try to find a used series 3 HD on ebay and then I can activate for $12.99 per month with no commitment. This may be the best option that I can tell.

I can buy a refurbished Premiere from Tivo for $99 but i need to commit to one year of service at $14.99/month. What's not clear to me is if I purchase a new Tivo within the 1st year, can I transfer my service and if so does the one year commitment reset?

I can buy a used Premiere on ebay. Do I need to commit to one year of service with this option? Same question as above in regards to transfering service to a new Tivo within the first year.

Another option is to buy a used Series 3 TiVo with lifetime service on it. There are 3 models the original Series 3, TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL. They sell for around $300 +/- depending on if the hard drives have been upgraded or not.

Unless you plan on discontinuing watching TV lifetime service is the way to go and with OTA the older units are just as good or better than the newer ones. I have 3 lifetimed TiVos I currently use for OTA only; an original Series 3, a TiVo HD, and a Premiere. Unfortunately at timess I have server multi-path reception issues and for me the older Series 3 & TiVo HD do a better job than the Premiere.

Thanks for the advice. I didn't initially want to spend the money for a used box with lifetime but I'm reconsidering. I guess, as suggested, I could always re-sell it if it doesn't suite our needs or we want to upgrade to new hardware whenever that may be.

Check for Tivos on craigslist too. You're more likely to find a good deal there than on ebay. I found a Tivo HD with a wireless g adapter for $50 on craigslist and sold the adapter for almost $30 and this spring I found a 540 S2 with a wireless g adapter for $20 so I bought it and sold the adapter for $25.
Now that I think of it, I should check craigslist again.

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So just to clarify. If I buy a used premier off eBay I have to commit to one year of service for that box only with no way to transfer before the years up? This is not true of a used series 3 hd though?

So just to clarify. If I buy a used premier off eBay I have to commit to one year of service...

I've been looking at setting up my parents with a Premiere I got on craigslist; Tivo rep said it would be 14.99/mo, no commitment. It may depend on the serial number of the unit as to which plan it is eligible for, but the impression I got is that they are less restrictive with used units. (presumably the original owner ate the cost of any commitment/subsidy.)

Definitely check on Craigslist, I met up to buy a wireless N adapter and they basically threw the Premiere in with it. Units without lifetime don't have a whole lot of value.

I've been looking at setting up my parents with a Premiere I got on craigslist; Tivo rep said it would be 14.99/mo, no commitment. It may depend on the serial number of the unit as to which plan it is eligible for, but the impression I got is that they are less restrictive with used units. (presumably the original owner ate the cost of any commitment/subsidy.)

Definitely check on Craigslist, I met up to buy a wireless N adapter and they basically threw the Premiere in with it. Units without lifetime don't have a whole lot of value.

Interesting. I asked Tivo sales rep yesterday and they said used premiere will require 1 yr commitment. But is does somewhat make sense if the box was used more than one year they shouldn't need to. Craigslist in my area unfortunately doesn't have any tivo HD boxes.